OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of hydrogen-rich saline (HS) on liver of severely scalded rats with delayed resuscitation.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were inflicted with 40% TBSA full-thickness scald using a temperature-controlled scalding apparatus. The injured rats were divided into lactated Ringer's solution (RS) and HS groups according to the random number table, with 12 rats in each group. Rats in groups RS and HS were respectively resuscitated with an intraperitoneal injection of 4 mL × kg⁻¹ × %TBSA⁻¹ of RS or HS (self-prepared, with concentration of hydrogen 0.6 mmol/L) 6 hours after injury up to 48 hours after scald. The infusion volume of the second 24 hours after injury was a half of that of the first 24 hours. At post scald hour (PSH) 6 (before resuscitation), 12, 24, and 48, blood was collected from the heart of 3 rats in each group, and then the rats were sacrificed for harvesting liver tissue. The pathological change in liver tissue was observed with HE staining. The number of hepatic neutrophils was counted with a hematocytometer. Serum levels of AST and ALT were determined with full-automatic biochemical analyzer. Contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in liver tissue were determined with ELISA. Absorbance value of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue was detected and quantified with spectrophotometer. Data were processed with analysis of variance of repeated measurement and LSD-t test.

RESULTSAt PSH 48, moderate infiltration of inflammatory cells and hepatic hyperemia were observed in rats of group HS as compared with group RS. At PSH 12, 24, and 48, the number of neutrophils in group HS was respectively (25.3 ± 1.8) × 10⁵, (19.6 ± 0.6) × 10⁵, and (14.1 ± 3.2) × 10⁵ cells per mililitre, and they were significantly lower than those in group RS \[(31.9 ± 2.0) × 10⁵, (30.9 ± 2.2) × 10⁵, and (23.8 ± 3.0) × 10⁵ cells per mililitre, with t values respectively 5.6, 7.6, and 8.7, P values below 0.05\]. At PSH 6 and 12, the serum levels of AST and ALT and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in liver tissue were close between the two groups (with t values respectively 0.3-3.9 and 0.9-3.8, P values above 0.05). At PSH 24 and 48, the serum levels of AST and ALT in group HS were respectively (308 ± 24) and (210 ± 15) U/L and (93 ± 7) and (70 ± 5) U/L, which were significantly lower than those in group RS \[(541 ± 39) and (505 ± 18) U/L, with t values respectively 17.5 and 16.7, P values below 0.05; (156 ± 9) and (166 ± 21) U/L, with t values respectively 30.3 and 6.9, P values below 0.05\]. At PSH 24 and 48, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in liver tissue in group HS were respectively (20.7 ± 1.6) and (13.7 ± 1.5) pg/mg, (7.7 ± 1.5) and (6.3 ± 1.2) pg/mg, and (8.7 ± 1.2) and (6.0 ± 2.0) pg/mg, which were significantly lower than those in group RS \[(32.7 ± 5.0) and (25.7 ± 4.0) pg/mg, with t values respectively 5.2 and 5.7, P values below 0.05; (16.3 ± 2.5) and (12.0 ± 2.7) pg/mg, with t values both as 4.7, P values below 0.05; (14.7 ± 2.1) and (13.3 ± 1.5) pg/mg, with t values respectively 10.4 and 4.4, P values below 0.05\]. The level of MDA at PSH 6 and levels of 8-OHdG at PSH 6 and 12 in liver tissue were close between the two groups (with t values respectively 0.1, 0.7, and 4.3, P values above 0.05). In group HS, the levels of MDA in liver tissue at PSH 12, 24, and 48 were respectively (15.3 ± 1.5), (8.7 ± 1.2), and (6.7 ± 1.5) mmol/mg, and the levels of hepatic 8-OHdG at PSH 24 and 48 were respectively (124 ± 12) and (79 ± 10) pg/mg, which were significantly lower than those in group RS \[(27.3 ± 4.7), (20.3 ± 1.5), and (14.0 ± 1.0) mmol/mg, with t values respectively 5.2, 5.7, and 5.1, P values below 0.05; (191 ± 10) and (136 ± 15) pg/mg, with t values respectively 8.0 and 8.1, P values below 0.05\].

CONCLUSIONSResuscitation with HS could protect liver of severely scalded rats with delayed resuscitation possibly by reducing infiltration of neutrophils, thus lowering the content of inflammatory cytokines, and effectively alleviating oxidative stress.